Column: NFL Draft, breaking down first round: Did Raiders know what they were doing?

Clelin Ferrell of the Clemson Tigers reacts after making a tackle for a loss against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first quarter of their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Charlotte, N.C. The Raiders took Ferrell with their first pick in Thursday’s draft.

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Notre Dame alum Tillery finds a good home with Team Spanos; Elway’s Broncos have a good night

The Raiders shocked many in the football world by taking Clemson defensive Clelin Ferrell with the fourth pick.

Go easy on the Raiders.

Just because many draftniks graded Ferrell well below top-10 material, doesn’t mean the Raiders’ Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock goofed.

Know this: Some insiders at Clemson regarded Ferrell as the best player on a Clemson defensive line that Thursday sent Christian Wilkins to the Dolphins (13) and Dexter Lawrence (17) to the Giants.

My view is the player who went one pick later than Ferrell, LSU alum Devin White, is a better prospect at inside linebacker than Ferrell is at end.

But defensive end is more important than inside linebacker.

If Wilkins is truly the best player/NFL prospect from that excellent Clemson line, he should have a solid career with the Raiders.

Good to see the Raiders kept it simple, taking players at 24 and 27 instead of trading up.

Dwayne Haskins to Redskins

The former Ohio State quarterback landed in a good spot, even if dysfunction has marked the Dan Snyder Era in Washington.

Washington has a pretty good line, with a top-flight blindside protector in Trent Williams.

Also, Haskins can learn under veteran quarterback Case Keenum. His head coach, Jay Gruden, played a role in the development of quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Kirk Cousins, second- and fourth-round choices who’ve carved out lengthy NFL careers, each as a starter.

Jones to Giants

As El Cajon product Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network predicted last week in a draft call, the Giants took Duke quarterback Daniel Jones sixth.

Even so, the move stunned many observers.

I asked former NFL scout Dan Shonka if Jones had the arm strength suitable to the cold, often windy conditions in New Jersey.

Shonka, of OurLads.com, answered with one word. “No.”

Remember, it’s about comfort and fit for most teams, especially when selecting a quarterback in the first round.

Jones stands to get the full tutelage of longtime Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who’s tight with Duke coach David Cutcliffe.

Jones told ESPN he and Manning have chatted several times.

Don’t underestimate the value of an NFL veteran quarterback willing to share his hard-earned wisdom with an understudy.

The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes said apprenticing one year under smart vet Alex Smith, the San Diegan and Helix High alum, was instrumental to his success.

Elway’s good night

Getting two premium picks — a two and a three — from the Steelers to move down 10 spots was a nice return for Broncos boss John Elway.

Elway draftee Noah Fant, taken 20th, has a decent chance to provide the Broncos long overdue production downfield from the tight end. Also, Fant should become a better blocker than the last Broncos tight end who could run past linebackers and safeties, Julius Thomas.

Elway’s two moves Thursday were an endorsement of new Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco, 34.

Team Spanos’ pick

New teammate Brandon Mebane is ultra-astute. The nose tackle has helped several linemates read the NFL game. Also, D-line coach Giff Smith is well-regarded by past and present NFL pupils.

Dangerous edge rushers Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram and Derwin James will also benefit Tillery, a highly athletic, huge prospect (6-foot-6 ½, 295) who had shoulder-cartilage surgery in March. The long-armed Tillery has the quickness to work at end, not only inside.

Tillery was an uneven performer with Notre Dame. (And when he returns to Greater Los Angeles, he can’t expect a warm welcome from USC fans, given his unsportsmanlike behavior late in a 2016 loss at the Los Angeles Coliseum.)

Telesco, who has built an outstanding roster, frequented Notre Dame as an Indianapolis Colts scouting executive. In past drafts, he invested in ex-Notre Dame defenders Manti Te’o and Isaac Rochell.